This is a Chinese meatball recipe with ground pork and spiced with five-spice powder.
Fried meatballs is a homey recipe, one that you can prepare every day for your family without much hassle: a recipe that is great for children and adults alike.
I finished almost half of the serving just as soon as the meatballs were out of the wok; it’s delicious as is, and great as an entree for home-cooked Chinese meal. You can also serve this meatball as an appetizer…
The only special ingredient in this fried meatball recipe is the fish paste, which makes the fried meatball extra yummy.
I use frozen fish paste. If you can’t find it, you can also substitute it with minced shrimp. Enjoy!
Fried Meat Balls Recipe
Everyone loves meatballs. This is a Chinese meatballs recipe where the meatballs are fried. Easy and delicious meatballs recipe that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1 egg
- 1/4 small onion, diced
- 2 oz fish paste
- 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 3 dashes white pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- oil, for frying
Directions
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1Mix all the ingredients (except the oil) in a bowl and blend well. The mixture should be sticky.
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2Heat up a wok with some oil enough to cover half of the meatballs (shallow fry the meatballs). Wet your hands with some water. Using a teaspoon, scoop up some of the meatball mixture and shape it into a small. Drop the meatball into the wok to fry. Repeat the same until you use up the mixture.
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3Use the spatula to turn the meatballs to fry the other side until they are cooked. Serve hot.
Michael
Could anchovy paste be substituted?
Rasa Malaysia
You can substitute with shrimp.
SANDRA
i love to try this recipe out but don’t know what fish paste is. Can you advise me brand name and location? BTW i live in Singapore
Rasa Malaysia
Fish paste is just basically fish meat. It’s what made fish balls. Not sure if you can buy ready-made fish paste from Singapore, if not you can use shrimp or fresh fish meat.
Pauline Huang
Sandra ..you can get from Fairprice,
Or wet market yong tao hu stall.
Clarence
If I don’t have fish sauce, would Oyster Sauce work as a substitute
Rasa Malaysia
Yes
Rebecca
It is hard to get the fish paste in some cities, so I often add in some corn flour or tapioca flour or even bread cubes. Meat balls is one of the best and simple dish. From here we can make it into Sweet and Sour and so on. I often add in some tapioca flour and all the ingredients given and BEAT until a ball is formed then make into balls. Or you can add in some fried salted fish — chop into tiny cubes into the minced meat.
Vaishali
I just love this! Terrific pictures.
Amy
Tried this last night and it was good! :) But I added carrot purée and chopped coriander as there’s no onion at home. How would I know if the meatballs are well cooked yet not overly cooked inside? Cheers!
Vyvacious
Great post! These look delicious! Any idea what the average time to cook would be for these? Not sure how to tell when they’re done. Thanks! :)
ali
I would like to make these for dinner but I am struggling with what sides to have with the meatballs. Any ideas?
Rasa Malaysia
I think it goes well with salad or even soups, or noodles.
khaiming
I love this! Just made this for dinner and my son loves it! Thank you so much for sharing all your wonderful recipes. Reminds me of my childhood with my granparents!
JK
Hi, would you recommend any sauce for this? :)
Rasa Malaysia
Chili sauce, Lingham.
MayMay
Can I add fresh fish paste instead of the frozen one, what other ingredient should I put into the fresh fish paste? Thanks.
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, you can. You just add the fish paste into the pork.
MayMay
Why I cant see your meat ball recipe?
Rasa Malaysia
Please click page 2 for the fried meatball recipe (at the bottom).
Jayne
My paternal grandma used to make delicious fried meatballs every CNY. Now she’s so much older and has had a relapse of cancer, we no longer get to enjoy such treats. I’ll try this recipe and make some for her to try. :-) Hope she will like it cos it sounds really good.
jeanette
Will try it today. Thanks for the recipe.
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
Did you say fish sauce? YUM! I love anything with fish sauce~~! I’ve heard about five-spice. I need to look into that when I go to Asian market next. I’ve seen many recipes with that spice but I’m not familiar with it. Thanks for the wonderful recipe Bee!
l c tan
I tried last nite but the meatballs shrink after I take them out of the frying pan. Your picture shows round bouncy meatballs. can u pls tell me why. thks
Rasa Malaysia
I am not sure why though, but I think it’s because the meat balls lost its moisture during the deep-frying process. Did you fry for too long?
Karen Lim
My mom would also add grated taro. I suppose every family would have their own version but the end result would be delicious nonetheless as they are made with love at home.
Rasa Malaysia
Grated taro, that’s a great idea. Yes, love meatballs.
Katherine
I come from an Italian family where meatballs are serious comfort food – love this version with five spice powder and fish sauce! Just brilliant.
Rasa Malaysia
Hi Katherine – you should try it. It’s very good!
momgateway
I never tried adding fish paste to my meatballs, that’s so creative, I think it makes a huge difference in taste, got to try this now…
Rasa Malaysia
Definitely. Restaurants always add fish paste to their meat balls or similar food, that’s why they are so DELICIOUS. :)
Little Inbox
I can take this meatball one after another without noticing how much calories intake.
Rasa Malaysia
Me too, so addictive.
Jennifer @ Licious Food
Oh this looks yummy and easy, I will have to add this to my “to make” list.
Rasa Malaysia
Definitely and after you try this fried meatballs recipe, I am sure you want more!
Tim Morris
What would you think of substituting the fish paste with shrimp paste?
Rasa Malaysia
Yes, you can. Get 2 oz of raw shrimp and mince it. It will work just fine. Let me know how it goes. :)
Amanda
Ooh, this looks delicious! While it’s likely to get eaten right away when made up, do you happen to know if this recipe freezes well?
Sweet Tim
I usually like to add ‘yau-yue’ or dried cuttlefish for more taste, the way my mom used to make pork balls or cutlets. That’s when I overeat, ha ha lol
Somia
looks very delicious and yummy,i like this recipe, thanks for sharing.It is done and enjoy it…..